THE NAVAL FIGHT.
Men of the BrokeRamming a German Uustroyer. London, April 30 The experiences of some of the men in the destroyer action on April 20 have been related. When interviewed in hospital Midshipman Gyles, who had charge of the forecastle of the Broke, and was .wounded in one eye, said he was asleep when tbe enemy destroyers were sighted. All hands were called to “ action stations.” The first of the enemy’s fhells killed several of the crew.
“ I was wounded in the right eye,’’ he went cn, “and waa mumautuily stunned, bnt I picked tnysslt up, mopped away the blood with my coat sleeve, and ran to the gun?, I found five men a ive. Seaman logleeon, whose gun was out o| action, came to my help, and loaded the port gun -while I loaded the etaiboard gun Meanwhile 89veral Germans boardsd the Broke, yelling like mad all the time for mercy and shouting thmgs we conld not understand. When they got od deck they attempted to attack us. HAND-TO HAND WORK. *• I pointed my revolver, but a burly German, a regular giint, grabbed the revolver until Petty-Offioer Woodfhld hit him in the face. The German attempted to ruD, but Seaman Inglesou put a outlas3 through him. We tumbled him over the eide. We then oleared the decks of all Germans, killing those who intercepted ns aDd making the reßt prisoners. Midshipman Gyles described the torpedoing of a German destroyer and the ramming of another until the Broke was hit in the boiler-room and drifted helpless. Particulars gathered from Rowels, helmsman of the Broke, show that fragments of a shell 'which buret behind the wheel struck him all over the lower part of the body. “When the skipper ordered me to swiDg the ship round and ram the destroyer, it put new life into me," he said. “The telegraph man who was also wounded, helped me to get the wheel into position. Thus we crashed the German destroyer. I then saw the destroyer lymg on its port/eide and crushed right down, only the forepart being visible. Thee I smiled for the first time daring the aotion and I haven’t stopped singe.” IN THE SIOKEHOLD. Ghief-Pettj-Officer Tom Davies, a
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Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1917, Page 4
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370THE NAVAL FIGHT. Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1917, Page 4
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